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Grief’s heavy burden on those mourning five young Calgarians killed in the city’s worst mass slaying lifted for one family, if only slightly, on the eve of the first funerals for the victims.

Family of Zackariah Rathwell said memories of the good times have helped them cope since he and four others were stabbed to death at a house party in Brentwood early last Tuesday.

"What was once a quiet and sombre house after the initial news of Zack’s passing, turned into a house full of laughter while people were swapping their memories of Zack," read a statement provided by the family Sunday.

Rathwell, 21, Lawrence Hong, 27, Josh Hunter, 23, Kaiti Perras, 23, and Jordan Segura, 22, were killed during a house party celebrating the last day of classes at the University of Calgary.

Police have charged one of the party guests, Matthew de Grood, 22, with five counts of first-degree murder in connection with the killings.

"We are devastated by what happened. It is a struggle every day to understand that Zackariah won’t be coming home. He was so close to so many and touched the lives of everyone that he came into contact with," the Rathwell family said in its statement.

Rathwell, a first-year student at Alberta College of Art and Design, played with Hunter in a popular local band called Zackariah and the Prophets.

"He was destined to be a singer," his mother, Ronda Rathwell, recalled fondly in the family’s written statement.

"He begged for a guitar, he begged for guitar lessons and he played the same song repeatedly: Brick House by the Commodores. It drove everyone in the house crazy."

A few days before Rathwell and Hunter were killed, Zackariah and the Prophets played a sold-out record release party at a downtown Calgary music venue.

"It was the best show they’ve ever done. He said he would have this place rocking and he did, he had everyone jumping up and down," said Ken Wesolowski, Zack's stepdad.

Rathwell’s music figured in the family’s decision to extend an open invitation to anyone affected by the killings to his funeral on Tuesday.

"We know that he touched the lives of so many, through his kindness, his laughter and his music," the family said.

A memorial service for Rathwell’s friend and bandmate, Hunter, will take place Monday, along with funerals for Segura and Perras.

Hong’s funeral is Wednesday.

The victims were all friends who had gathered at Segura’s rented house on Butler Crescent N.W. last Monday to celebrate the end of the academic semester.

Hunter was in his second year at U of C’s Haskayne School of Business, Segura was in his third year of religious studies at U of C and Hong was a fourth-year urban studies student.

Perras had previously attended Mount Royal University for English, but knew Hunter, Rathwell and Segura from high school.

Perras was also an accomplished ballet dancer, prompting her family to establish a scholarship in her memory.

Rathwell’s family has also established a scholarship in his name, asking for donations to the fund in lieu of flowers. Starting on Tuesday, anyone wishing to donate to the fund can do so at any Royal Bank of Canada branch in Calgary.

The police investigation into the killings reached a milestone Saturday evening, when crime scene investigators concluded their investigation on Butler Crescent and turned the home back over to its owner.

Many relatives of the five victims visited the scene for the first time Saturday, accompanied by civilian victim assistance workers from the police department.

As strangers and friends continued to drop off flowers, cards and trinkets at three memorials outside the house, relatives gathered around the memorials to open envelopes, unwrap flowers and read the notes of condolence Calgarians have left there.

Earlier in the weekend, the families of the five victims issued a joint statement.

"We know the public and media are searching to understand how this could have happened, as we are," read the statement released Saturday through the Calgary Police Service. "But we also know that these answers will take time and nothing will come as quickly as we want or need."

The families say they have come together "in this time of tremendous grief and tragedy" to support one another and start the healing process.

"First, we must say goodbye to our loved ones, which includes memorials and funerals over the coming days and weeks," they said.

The families say they may, as a group, speak publicly about the tragedy at a later date, along with friends and others close to the victims.

In the statement, the families extended gratitude to Calgarians.

"We know you are grieving, too, and we truly appreciate the support."

The suspect’s parents, Doug and Susan de Grood, issued a public statement last week extending their condolences to the victims’ families and friends.

De Grood is currently in custody at a secure psychiatric facility, pending an appearance in provincial court on Tuesday.

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